The Back Issue

[MysticRealm]

So I don't have back pain at all in regular day life. I don't see a chiro very often at all (they kill people ) I went to him a few years ago cause I was twisting while riding my horse and he was shocked that I was in no pain cause I was so 'out' but I wasn't. He fixed that and I was fine.
Anyways... for as long as I can remember I can't do ab exercises. I have had trainers show me and watch me do them and my technique is fine but it just hurts my back and I can't feel me stomach at all.
I went back to the chiro and he said it could be structural but he didn't think so, he said I was very stiff and tight through my back, right along the spine. He did some active release on my back and recommended I get a massage (I have never had a real massage, and hope I can't handle the pain of it ) So I have that set up for tomorrow.
Yesterday one of the trainers showed me weight lifting move to do which I could really feel in my back. Now the chiro said that I should keep my back moving and such but when doing this exercise I could just feel the immense stiffness in my back, I don't know if it's gonna be a good or bad thing for me to do.
Anyone else ever had this kind of back issue, I rarely feel it during normal life but if I have to bend over for too long, or sometimes while riding my horse, and for my ab exercises.

I also would love to stretch it since the issue is stiffness but I don't know how to stretch that area. The only one that kind works is hold a railing leaning back and arching my back like a cat, then going to the sides (just holding the one hand on the rail, does that make sense.

Sorry this is kinda long and pointless. I have ok strong abs, when I flex them just standing they are fairly hard but I want to be able to work them!

Any Ideas

 

[amylosesandwins]

try looking for someone who practices what's called conservative chiropractic. They are more legit than the ones who want to ear candle you and crack your bones. I mean, I have seen those kind before and it always made me nervous to have the lady do those types of adjustments. Those can be so harmful, and are potentially dangerous. I've sort of stumbled upon my chiropractor I'm seeing now. Conservative chiropractic uses more sensible, moderate things to relieve pain. They generally do an x-ray to check out what your spine looks like, make sure everything's in alignment and all that. They take into account a lot of different health factors and usually do a really thorough examination. Then they decide on a course of physical therapy-type treatment, exercises, stretches, massage therapy, and ultrasound therapy. It's pretty safe and sound, and makes more sense. The lady I was seeing before was kind of a new agey wackadoo, and the guy I go to now stresses exercise, physical therapy, and massage therapy as well as healthy diet.
I've never had him give me any adjustments that involved twisting or cracking, and he doesn't
do those kinds. Conservative chiropractic in general avoids things like that because of the potential
for injury. Try finding someone like that, they might be able to help you out. My insurance actually pays for mine.

My main issue turned out to be that my spine was uneven...I have very minor scoliosis that wasn't detected when they did the testing in 6th grade since I was still growing. I was prescribed special orthotics for my shoes, with a heel lift on the left foot to raise it in order to align my body properly and provide shock absorption when I exert pressure through walking, standing, etc. It has made a huge difference in my back pain. The chiro I see has me do these ab exercises as part of my daily exercises since strong abs can lead to less back pain too. you just lie with your knees bent and your arms crossed, and raise your head, neck and shoulders up a few inches, and hold that position for 3 seconds. Do as many as you feel comfortable doing, they work just as well as anything else. Also, standing and doing leg lifts and twists can work the abs.

 

[MysticRealm]

thnks for the reply. The chiro didn't adjust me last time, he did an active release then said I should try massage therapist of physio. The massage guy gave me stretches to do involving my really stiff calves and back of my legs, back, and hip flexors.